General Information about Mongolia
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The State Flag of Mongolia

 Standard of Mongolian National Flag
  • Classification code: 03.160
  • The State Flag of Mongolia
  • General requirements: MNS 6262, 2011
  • Approved by the National Standardization Council Resolution No.35 of June 23, 2011
  • The standard entered into force from February 22, 2012


The State Emblem of Mongolia

The state emblem was adopted on March 25, 1992
The State Emblem shall be of circular shape with the white lotus serving as its base and the "never-ending Tumen Nasan" pattern forming its outer frame. The main background is of blue color signifying the eternal blue sky, the Mongols traditional sanctity. In the center of the Emblem a combination of the Precious Steed and the Golden Soyombo sign is depicted as an expression of the independence, sovereignty and spirit of Mongolia. In the upper part of the Emblem, the Chandmani (Wish-granting Jewel) sign symbolizes the past, the present and the future. In the lower part of the Emblem, the sign of the Wheel entwined with the silk scarf Khadag in an expression of reverence and respect, symbolizes continued prosperity. It is placed against the background of a "hill" pattern conveying the notion of "mother earth".


The Map of Mongolia
 
General Data
Capital Ulaanbaatar
Official language Mongolian
Political system Parliamentary Republic
President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ
Prime Minister Norov ALTANKHUYAG
Currency    Tugrug (MNT)
Time Zone GMT +7 and +8
Internet domain .mn
Telephone code +976
Territory 1,564,116 кm²

Main Indicators
Data: Main Indicators of Mongolian Statistics
Info: Surveys and Reports: Mongolia

Geography

Mongolia is a landlocked country in Central Asia with the area of 1,565,000km². Total length of the border is 8,158km and out of that Mongolia shares 3,485km border with the Russian Federation to the north and 4,673km with the People's Republic of China to the south. From western most to eastern most point is 2,392km and from northern most point to southern most point is 1,259km. 
The capital city Ulaanbaatar is the biggest city in the country; about 50% of the population lives in Ulaanbaatar. 
Mongolia is elevated on average about 1,580m above the sea level. In the north and west lie Altai, Khangai and Khentii mountain ranges. Gobi and desert regions spread throughout the east and south of the country. Much of the country consists of steppe. The highest point in Mongolia is the Khuiten Peak in the Tavan Bogd mountain range in the far west at 4,374m above the sea level. From the north to the south the country is divided into 4 major regions differing in natural and geographical features Khangai and Khentii, Altain mointains, Dornod plains and Gobi regions. Further, Mongolia is divided into six natural zones high mountain zone, taiga (forest) zone, forest steppe zone, steppe zone, desert steppe zone and desert zone.
Mongolia is the 19th largest but the most sparsely populated independent country in the world.

Population
According to the Mongolian National Statistical Office, Mongolia’s total population as of the end of 2011 is estimated by 2,834,206. Approximately 30% of the total population is nomadic and semi-nomadic. The majority of the country’s citizens are of the Mongol ethnicity.
In the 20th century, Mongolian population grew 3.7 times. One millionth citizen was born in 1962 and 2 millionth citizen was born in 1988.
Data: Population and Health

Ethnic Groups of Mongolia as of  May 05, 2007
No Ethnic Groups Population %
1 Khalkh 2,134,493 82.04
2 Kazakh 140,152 5.39
3 Durvud 70,252 2.7
4 Bayad 53,246 2.05
5 Buriad (Buryat)
44,211 1.7
6 Dariganga 34,680 1.33
7 Zakhchin 31,196 1.2
8 Uriankhai 24,111 0.93
9 Darkhad 20,060 0.77
10 Uuld 11,277 0.43
11 Torguud 12,950 0.5
12 Khotgoid 844 0.03
13 Myangad 8,222 0.32
14 Khoton 6,904 0.27
15 Uzemchin 1,995 0.08
16 Barga 2,392 0.09
17 Uigar 262 0.01
18 Kharchin 86 0
19 Tsakhar 43 0
20 Khorchin 56 0
21 Other 2,734 0.11
22 Russian 1,345 0.05
23 Chinese 249 0.01
24 Other (foreign) 16 0
Total 2,601,789

Government and Political System
President
President
National Security Council of Mongolia
State Commission on Management and Organization
Rehabilitation Political Repression

State Great Khural (Parliament)
Parliament
National Audit Office
National Statistical Office
Bank of Mongolia (Mongol Bank)
Government Service Council of Mongolia
Financial Regulatory Commission
National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
General Election Commission of Mongolia
Constitutional Court of Mongolia
Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia

Government
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
Cabinet Secretariat of the Government
Ministries
Ministry of Nature, Environment and Green Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Construction and Urban Development
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Education and Science
Ministry of Road and Transportation
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Ministry of Mining
Ministry of Industry and Agriculture
Ministry of Labor
Ministry of Population Development and Social Welfare
Ministry of Economic Development
Ministry of Energy
Ministry of Health

Judiciary
The General Council of the Courts
Supreme Court
State General Prosecutor's Office
Judicial Information System
Legal Information System

Info: Ministries of Mongolia
Info: Regulatory and Implementing Agencies of Mongolian Government

Politics
In 1921, with the support from the Soviet Union, Mongolia has abolished monarchy, feudalism, separated state affairs from religion, and assigned Bogd Khaan as the spiritual leader with a limited monarchy. 
In 1924, Mongolian People’s Republic was proclaimed. 
Mongolian People’s Party (renamed as Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party in 1924) was established by the first assembly on March 01-03, 1921 in Deed Shivee town. The MPRP was the sole political party during the socialist times that coordinated all external and internal affairs of the country. The one party ruling system had continued for 70 years, between 1921 and 1989. 
Nowadays, Mongolia is defined as a Democratic Parliamentary Republic. Free speech, human rights and religious freedom are protected by the constitution. Mongolian press is independent, without any influence from the State Great Khural (Parliament), President or judiciary system. 
The first democratic election was held on 22nd of July, 1990. The 6 political parties have participated in the election. Out of 50 seats of the State Khural - Lower Cabinet, MPRP won 30 seats or the 60% of the Cabinet seats, Mongolian Democratic Party won 14, Mongolian Social Democratic Party - 3, and Mongolian National Progressive Party won 3 seats. In 1992 election, MPRP won 70 seats, MDP and MNPP together won 4 seats, MSDP won 1, and an independent candidate won 1 seat. 
In 1996 election, out of 76 seats of the State Great Khural or Parliament, Democratic Union Coalition won 50 seats, MPRP won 25 seats and Mongolian Conservative United Party won 1 seat. 
In 2000 election, MPRP won 72 seats, Democratic Union Coalition - 1, Motherland - Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party - 1, Civil Will Party - 1 and an independent candidate won 1 seat. 
In 2004 election, MPRP won 36 seats, Motherland - Democracy Coalition - 36, Republican Party - 1 and an independent candidate won 3 seat. 
In 2008 election, MPRP won 45 seats, Democratic Party - 28, Civil Will Party - 1, Civic Coalition - 1 and an independent candidate won one seat. 
The MPRP officially restored it's name under Mongolian People's Party in 2011. But new political party was established under MPRP by ex-president of Mongolia N.Enkhbayar. As of March 2012, there are 21 political parties were registered at the Supreme Court of Mongolia.
Info: Mongolian political parties
 
Economics
Data: Gross Domestic Products of Mongolia
Data: State Budget of Mongolia
Data: Labour and Business register
Data: Money, Loan, Stock market
Data: External and Domestic trade
Data: Industry
Data: Animal husbandry
Data: Agriculture
Info: Banks, Mongolian Stock Exchange, Tax

Administrative Units
Mongolia is divided into 21 aimags (provinces). The aimags are divided into Sums and Bags. City is divided into districts where districts divided into Khoroos.

Ulaanbaatar - Capital Aimags (by region)
Eastern region Central region Khangai region Western region
Khentii Govisumber Arkhangai Bayan-Ulgii
Dornod Darkhan-Uul Bayankhongor Govi-Altai
Sukhbaatar Dornogovi    Bulgan Zavkhan
  Dundgovi Orkhon Uvs
  Umnugovi Uvurkhangai Khovd
  Selenge Khuvsgul  
  Tuv    

Info: Provinces of Mongolia

Foreign Relations

In 1946, for the first time Mongolia applied for membership to the United Nations but was denied. Fifteen years later, in 1961 Mongolia was accepted as the 101st member of UN.
United Nations Secretary Generals: Kurt Waldheim visited Mongolia in 1977, Perez de Cuellar in 1987, Kofi Annan in 2002, and Ban Ki-moon in 2009.
On the 1st of November of 1962 Mongolia was accepted as UNESCO’s 108th member country.
Since 2002, Mongolia has been participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping operations and sending its troops to overseas.
Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations is located in New York and Geneva cities.
In 1963, Mongolia has joined Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and made contract with 20 countries concerning human rights assistance, with 4 countries concerning prisoner exchange, and with 15 countries concerning council relations.
Info: Diplomatic relations of Mongolia
Info: Mongolia's membership in international organizations
Info: Multilateral agreements of Mongolia
Info: Foreign relations, Embassies and Consulates, Visa

Religion
It is believed that the Buddhism was first introduced in Mongolia in the 3rd century of BC, but the facts say that the Buddhism entered Mongolia in the Modun Shanyu’s era (209-174BC). 
The translation of the Buddhist philosophical literatures had started during Mongolian Empire period between 1182 and 1270. 
The later development of Buddhism in Mongolia occurred after the 16th century during the Manchu era. The yellow hat sect or the Lamaism been introduced from Tibet. In 1570, the king of Tumed, Altan made up the term Dalai Lama and recognized Buddhism as the state official religion. Since then 200 some Mongolian scholars wrote many religious and philosophical writings and books. 
As a central Asian nomadic country, various kinds of Shamanism or Tengrism (Tengriism) have been widely practiced throughout the history. Even though, shamanism was gradually replaced by the Buddhism, it made its remnants in Mongolian culture and nowadays the shamanism is becoming popular among the Mongolians. The religious ceremony called “Ovoo Takhikh”, to make an offering to an “Ovoo” (pile of stones often built on top of the mountains and passes as a home to mountain spirits), is one of the shamanistic rituals that is widely practiced. 
During the 20th century political repression, 700 some temples and monastery were destroyed and around 18,000 lamas or monks were executed. The fall of communism in 1991 restored the legality of public religious practice, and now Buddhism is the most widely practiced religion in the country. 
Also other religions, such as Islam, Christianity are spreading in the country. Recently some scholars and politicians are making a proposal on restoring and recognizing the “Forever Blue Sky Worship” or the Tengriism as the state official religion. Study shows that the 40% of the population are Buddhists, 30% are Atheists, 20% are Shamanists, 6% are Christians and 4% are Muslims. 

Sports
Three mainly traditional sports are horse racing, archery and wrestling which are the most popular sports with most number of audiences in Mongolia. During Naadam festival, a traditional game called Shagain Kharvaa, or shooting with knucklebones, is popular too. The most popular sport is Mongolian Wrestling one of the three mainly traditional sports. Wrestling was even mentioned in the Secret History of Mongols as a way to resolve a conflict. Also, Mongolian Traditional Wrestling was recorded in the 2011 Guinness World Book of Records with participation of 6,002 wrestlers on September 25, 2011.
As of today, the Mongolian National Team has participated successfully in 12 Summer Olympic Games, receiving 2 Gold, 9 Silver and 13 Bronze medals. Even though Mongolian National Olympic Committee was established in 1956, only in 1962 it was accepted by the International Olympic Committee.
Since Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics, Mongolia has actively participated in all of the Olympic Games except for 1984 Olympic Game.
As for Winter Olympics, Mongolia has participated in all of the Olympic Games except for 1976. But currently, Mongolia hasn’t won any medals from the Winter Olympics.
Judo, Boxing, Freestyle Wrestling, Shooting are the games for Mongolian athletes to win a medal. Before 2008 Olympic Games, Mongolia was leading the list of countries with no Gold medal.
In 2008, Mongolia received 2 Gold and 2 Silver medals from the Beijing 29th Olympic Games, ranking the 31st from 204 countries.
In 2012, Mongolia received 2 silver (Judo Men's -100 kg and Boxing Men's Fly 52kg categories) and 3 bronze (Judo Men's -73kg, Boxing Men's Light Welter 64 kg and Freestyle Wrestling Women's 63 kg categories) medals from London 30th Olympic Games, ranking the 56th from 204 countries.

Olympic Gold Silver Bronze Total
1964 Tokyo 0 0 0 0
1968 Mexico City 0 1 3 4
1972 Munich 0 1 0 1
1976 Montreal 0 1 0 1
1980 Moscow 0 2 2 4
1984 Los Angeles Did not participate
1988 Seoul 0 0 1 1
1992 Barcelona 0 0 2 2
1996 Atlanta 0 0 1 1
2000 Sidney 0 0 0 0
2004 Athens 0 0 1 1
2008 Beijing 2 2 0 4
2012 London 0 2 3 5
Total 2 9 13 24

Meteorology
Mongolia is located at high lands with strong winds. Winter time is long and harsh, Summer time is short. Most of the precipitation falls during summer season. Air temperature fluctuates between -15°C to -30°C during winter and +10°C to +26.7°C during summer time. 
Annual average temperature is less than -4°C in Altai, Khangai, Khuvsgul and Khentii Mountainous regions,  -6°C to -8°C in river basins and valleys, less than +2°C in plain regions, and above +6°C in Gobi regions. On average 257 sunny days occur in a year. Most of the precipitation occurs in the north of the country with 200-350 mm in a year, and only 100-200 mm occurs in south. Gobi desert is located in very south of the country and it is very common that no precipitation occur in whole year. 
Mongolia’s annual average temperature is 0°C. The coldest is in January with -30°C to -34°C in Altai, Khangai, Khuvsgul, Khentii mountainous regions, -20°C to -25°C in plain regions, -15°C to -20°C in Gobi regions, and -15°C to -12°C in South Gobi regions. Since 1940, the record coldest day occurred in December of 1976, in Zuungovi sum of Uvs province with -55.3°C.  In Ulaanbaatar city, the coldest day occurred in December 1954 with -49°C. 
During winter time, 300 mm – 400 mm precipitation occurs in Khangai, Khentii, Khuvsgul Mointainous regions, 250 mm – 300 mm in Mongol Altai region, 150 mm – 250 mm in plain regions, and 50 mm – 100 mm in Gobi desert region. 
The hottest month is July, with average temperature of 15°C in Altai, Khangai, Khuvsgul, Khentii Mountainous regions, 15°C – 20°C in Low Lands of Great Lakes and Orkhon, Selenge, Khalkhgol river basins, 20°C – 25°C in plains of Dornod, and over +25°C in Dornogovi regions. The hottest temperature fluctuates between +28.5°C to +44°C degrees.

Soil

There are many different types of soil in Mongolian land, such as sandy, silty, clay, loamy, peaty, chalky etc. In the north of the country dark brown soil is common, brown soil is in central part, and gray soil spread through southern part of the country. In Mideast, 50% of the soil is fertile. Only 0.76% of the total land mass is suitable for agriculture. 840 km² area is with irrigation. Soil in Mongolia has been divided into the following classifications:
1. Black soil is found in Khangai, Khentii, Khuvsgul aimags, Mongol Altai and Ih Hyangan Mountain ranges, and the in the Orkhon, Selenge, Onon and Ulz river basins which are in the forest steppe region. Black soil has 61.2%, 40-70 cm of thick humus.
2. Brown soil is in the forest steppe and steppe region 1,000-1,200 meters above sea level. The content of humus is 35% in dark brown, 23% in brown, 1.62% in light brown soil. There is no need irrigate in brown soil.
Rivers and Lakes
Water reserves in the north and middle of the country is different. Many large rivers are located in central Mongolia. In south of the country, gobi region, and in western provinces water reserve is scarce and water quality is not well. Mongolia’s water reserve total volume is 609.5 km³, and 82% of this are lakes, 10.3% is glaciers, 6% is rivers and 1.7% is underground water. 
There are 3,811 rivers with more than 67,000 km total length, 3,500 lakes with total volume of 500 m³ or more, 7,000 springs, 190 glaciers with more than 540 m² total area, 250 some minor water springs, and 139 underground water reserves in Mongolia. 
Rivers and lakes in Mongolia can be divided into 3 oceanic basins, Arctic Ocean basin, Pacific Ocean Basin, and Central Asian Internal Drainage basin. 
Rivers:
Orkhon 1,124 km, Selenge 1,024 km, Kherlen 1,090 km (The total length of Kherlen river is 1,264 km and out of that 1,090 km is belong to Mongolian land), Zavkhan 808 km, Tuul 704 km, Khovd 593 km, Yeruu 323 km, Kharaa 291 km. The largest river is Orkhon with 1,124 km long and 133,000 km² area. 
The largest lake is Uvs with 3,350 km² area
The deepest lake is Khuvsgul 262.4m deep
Lakes: Uvs 3,350 km² saline water (Uvs aimag)              
- Khuvsgul 2,760 km² fresh water (Khuvsgul aimag)
- Khyargas 1,407 km² saline water (Uvs aimag)                                 
- Khar Us 1,578 km² fresh water (Khovd aimag)
- Durgun 305 km² saline water (Khovd aimag)                                  
- Khar 575 km² fresh water (Khovd aimag)
- Buun Tsagaan 252 km² saline water (Bayankhongor aimag)              
- Buir 615 km² fresh water (Dornod aimag)                                                                                    
- Uureg 239 km² saline water (Uvs aimag)                                       
- Achit 311 km² fresh water (Uvs and Khovd aimags)

Flora
From north to south, Mongolia is divided in four major latitudinal zones: forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and desert. There are also high mountains particularly in the forest-steppe zone including taiga and alpine taiga zones. Depending on geographical zones, belts and topography, territory of Mongolia is divided in 4 main botanical geographical districts; Khangai and Khentii, Altai mountains, the Eastern steppe and the Gobi. Although the amount of vegetation and flora of Mongolia is proportionally small. It is distinctive and heterogeneous because of the country's vast territory and geography.
In Mongolia 3,000 species of seed plants, 445 species of moss, 930 species of lichen, 838 species of mushroom, 1,574 species of water weed and 160 species of primitive organisms,  belonging to 700 genus of 134 families can be found. 
Coniferous forest spread throughout the northern and western parts of the country. 7% of the total area of the country is covered with forest. 22% of forest consists of larch. 12,200km² area is used as pasture land and 20,000km² is used for hay field. Though, Mongolia is considered a country with abundant forest reserves. 
Yet Mongolia is rich with rare species of medicinal herbs. There are total 4,000 species of herbs and plants grow in Mongolia. The 80% of the world widely rare species of herbs including sea buckthorn bushes grow in Mongolia. 

Fauna
There are 138 species of mammals, 434 species of birds, 75 species of fish, 6 species of amphibians, 22 species of reptiles, 13,000 species of insects, and 516 species of simple worms are found in Mongolia. 
Animals listed in the Mongolian Red Book: dhole (Cuon Alpinus), Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis), Gobi wild camel (Camelus ferus), wild horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), otter (Lutra lutra), saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica mongolica), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), wild boar (Sus scrofa), black-tailed gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), moose (Alces alces), mongolian wild ass (Еquus hemionus hemionus), mongolian beaver (Castor fiber birulai), and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).
Birds: Hooded crane (Grus monacha), relict gull (Larus relictus), white-naped crane (Grus vipio), dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), black stork (Ciconia nigra), and mute swan (Cygnus olor).
According to their habitat animals are classified into the following: mountain animals (mountain sheep or argali, wild goat or ibex, snow leopard, marten, lammergeier and snow cock), steppe animals (wolf, corsac fox, antelope, saiga antelope, black-tailed gazelle, marmot, gopher, bustard and crane), forest animals (deer, moose, sable, musk deer, roe deer, bear, boar, lynx, wolf, wolverine, fox, hare, badger and skunk), water animals (muskrat, beaver, goose, duck, scoter, pike, perch, taimen, grayling, lenok and burbot), amphibians (frog, Mongolian toad and stepperunner (Eremias arguta), and reptiles (Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), steppe rat snake (Elaphe dione), pit viper (Gloydius halys) and steppe ribbon racer (Psammophis lineolatus). 

Photo: Gallery

Other Information
Year History
1206
Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan) unified all Mongolian tribes and established Mongolian Empire. The empire stretched from Western Europe to the Pacific Ocean, from Yenisei river basin in the North to the Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East with total area of 40,000,000 km².
1234
Mongolians defeated Jurched’s Jin Dynasty. Between 1211 and 1217 Chinggis Khaan, 1217 – 1223 General Mukhulai, 1229 – 1234 Ugedei and Tului defeated Jurchen State respectively.
1240
The Secret History of Mongolians was written. It has 12 chapters, narrates about ancient origins of Mongolians and from Chinggis Khaan to Ugedei Khaan’s life and legacy.
1271
Khubilai Khaan relocated the capital of Mongolia from Karakorum to Beijing and renamed the country as Yuan.
1368
Yuan Dynasty was destroyed and Mongolians came back to their home land.
1636 Southern Mongolians were occupied by Qing Dynasty. Hence it is called Inner Mongolians.
1691 Northern Mongolians were occupied by Qing Dynasty.
1911 Bogd Khaan declared Mongolian independency.
1915 3 countries agreement (Treaty of Kyakhta) in Khiagt City, it was inflicted that Northern Mongolia is autonomous country under the control of China.
1921 The People’s revolution.
1924 People’s Republic of Mongolia was declared
1939 The Battles of Khalkhyn Gol. In 1939, Japan conquered Manchuria, established the country called Manchu-kuo and bordered to Mongolia. On 11th of November 1939, Japan attacked Mongolia with 10,000 troops, planes and tanks.
1945 The War of liberation. On 8th of August 1945, Soviet Union was declared war against Japan and attacked Manchuria with 1.6 million troops, 5,200 tanks, and  5,200 planes. On the next day, Mongolia was declared war against Japan and its 2,000 troops attacked to Manchuria.
1947 Inner Mongolian Autonomous was established.
1961 Mongolia joined United Nation.
1992 Mongolia adopted democracy and its new constitution. In 1990s socialist regime collapsed and democracy and market economy took its place. By so, multiple party system emerged.
2006 Mongolia celebrated 800 years anniversary of Mongolian Empire.
2008 Ulaanbaatar was the scene of riots after the Mongolian Democratic, Civil Movement and Republican parties disputed the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's victory in the parliamentary elections. Approximately 30,000 people took part in a public meeting led by the opposition parties.
2011 The 2220th year anniversary of Khunnu Empire, 805th year anniversary of Great Mongol Empire, 100th year anniversary of Mongolian Independence and 90th year anniversary of People’s Revolution.

 


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